HBO caught up with Hall of Fame trainer Emanuel Steward on the eve of his charge Wladimir Klitschko’s showdown with David Haye for the unified heavyweight championship.

Wladimir came in at 242 at the weigh-in, but that was after eating, so he’s probably closer to 238. Wladimir stays in excellent shape, so from the beginning of camp that’s never a concern. The first time we weigh him is at the weigh-in. I have to check my weight more than him. Right now, I’m about 172.

I’ll be 67 next week [July 7], and I know now that if I ever take a break from working mitts, I’ll never be able to do it again. At the end of the day, I get a lot of throbbing in my shoulder and hands. That’s why I wrap hands. I’ve never seen another trainer do it, but my hands feel better when I do it. In 1992, I began wrapping my hands for mitt work. But it wasn’t until this camp that Wladimir suggested I start taping my hands, too.